Missouri has thousands of caves across the state, and St. Louis is known for the many caves beneath our streets that were used to keep food and beverages (mostly beer) cool before modern refrigeration was invented.The caves under St. Louis are not accessible to the public and many have had their entrances closed as highways and other infrastructure were built over them.

Luckily, not all of the caves in our area have been lost; this list of caves are all within driving distance from St. Louis and offer safe and otherworldly underground tours you just won’t believe. Every cave has it’s own formations and tunnels, making a visit to each one a unique experience. Read below to learn more about these sites and find tips for your visits!

1. Onondaga Cave State Park
Dave Thomas - Flickr
Visits here, like most State Park cave tours, are guided informational tours. You will learn about how the caves formations came to be, see the amazing "Lily Pad Room" formation, and travel deep underground to large open caverns.
Don Kasak - Wiki Commons
Onondaga Cave State Park is located just over an hour from St. Louis, at 7556 Hwy. H, Leasburg, Missouri 65535.
2. Crystal City Underground
Tom K. - Yelp
This 200-acre entertainment cave party center is currently only open for special events and reserved bookings due to repairs needed in some areas after last year's floods. They are working diligently to bring back all of the incredible activities here. We included it on this list so you can prepare for their re-opening - and you definitely will want to, because this place has underground kayaking, dancing, volleyball and so much more!
Crystal City Underground - Facebook
Crystal City Underground is located 40 minutes from St. Louis at 700 Crystal Ave., Crystal City, Missouri 63019
3. Meramec Cavern
el-toro - Flickr
Meramec Caverns is also about an hour from St. Louis and is open all year long. They offer guided tours where you will learn about a seven story mansion that was built inside the cavern and experience the "Hollywood Room," where many movies and tv shows have been filmed.
Paul Barker Hemings - Flickr
Meramec Caverns is located at 1135 Highway W, Sullivan, MO 63080.

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4. Fisher Cave
Meramec State Park
Fisher Cave is located in Meramec State Park, just 10 minutes from Meramec Cavern, so a trip to both of these cool caves can easily be explored in one trip! Fisher Cave offers passages that lead to massive calcite and helictites deposits that are 30 feet tall! Passages here can be narrow, but led to huge open caverns.
Dave Thomas - Flickr
Fisher Cave is located at 670 Fisher Cave Drive, Sullivan, Missouri 63080
5. Mark Twain Cave
Irene L. - Yelp
There are two cave adventures to be had here for those who want to take a cave day trip up Highway 79. Mark Twain Cave offers a path with no steps and a flat walking surface. This is a perfect cave tour for those on their first cave visit. The second cave, Cameron Cave, features one of the largest underground labyrinth systems in the Northern Hemisphere. This cave has no electricity and visitors carry lanterns as the maneuver the passages.
Craig J. - Yelp
Craig J. - Yelp
Mark Twain Cave is located about 1 hour and 45 minutes from St. Louis at 300 Cave Hollow Rd., Hannibal, Missouri 63401
6. Bridal Cave
Bridal Cave - Facebook
Bridal Cave is a an amazing site for those who venture to the Lake of the Ozarks. As its name suggests, this cavern is a popular spot for wedding ceremonies! Boasting over 3,00 nuptials, this cave also offers tours and other family-friendly events.
Jena Fuller - Flickr
At 2.5 hours from St. Louis, the furthest cave on this list...but it's definitely worth the drive because it's absolutely spectacular.

Bridal Cave is located at 526 Bridal Cave Rd., Camdenton, Missouri 65020.

Cave tours are amazing and offer us a glimpse of our world that seems unreal, but a visit to a cave takes preparation, to ensure you have a great time as you walk underground. Temperatures are very cool in caves, so sweaters and long pants are recommended, even in the summer months. Wear good walking or hiking shoes as caves have narrow passages that are often damp and rocky.

Information on cave tours, spelunking, and facts about our caves can be found on the official site of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Have visited any of these caves? Share your experiences with us in the comments below.

Here are more incredible pictures and information for your Crystal City Underground visit.

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